Car key locks up in ignition, wont turn or come out. Cable to park mechanism wont disengage. Has happened multiple times, today it took 40 minutes of jiggling steering wheel,key, brake shifter to disengage to get the car started.
Steering
Saturn SC Steering problems by year
12 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Saturn SC's steering. Loss of power steering, stiff or loose steering, wandering, column and rack problems.
Steering complaints by model year
Latest SC steering complaints
2001 Saturn sc with faulty ignition. Key binds when starting the car it also falls out of the ignition switch when driving. Key has been grinding down because of the faulty cylinder. This is a hazard and danger to anyone who drives this vehicle. I called gm and they said there is nothing they can do because it has not been formally recalled. I wanted a case opened and told them if anything happens because of this defective design I will seek restitution. The sr. Advisor was not helpful and tried to dismiss me as...
Read the full complaint
quickly as possible. Gm is not stepping up to the plate to stand by their vehicles or their customers. Poor design, poor quality, poor support = bodily harm, more lawsuits and no more customers! *Tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 saturn sc. While the vehicle was parked in a lot, the contact had to make numerous attempts and exert force to unlock the steering wheel. An independent mechanic replaced the ignition module and coil spring. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 5,000.
Almost from the start the steering column would lock up trying to start the car. Front and back lights have water inside, brakes have never worked right going all the way to floor with no air in lines. Sunroof also quit. Front driver door metal cracks when opening. Engine also looking like trouble. *Tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 saturn sc1. The contact stated that when inserting the key into the ignition, the steering column would suddenly lock. She tried to rock the steering wheel back and forth but it would not unlock. The dealer was contacted and they advised her that the cylinder and the housing would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they advised her that there were no recalls for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
My daughter katie was driving her car around a curved exit ramp when the steering seemed to fail. The car veered wildly back and forth, and the brakes were unresponsive as well. She made minor corrections to the steering until it finally began to straighten out. Then a fox ran across the road, she jerked reflexively, and the car veered into a ditch and rolled. Luckily she was uninjured except for scrapes, however the car was totaled - windshield smashed, roof smashed, passenger side smashed, and so on. Had there been a passenger there would have been a serious injury. *Tr
Dt: the contact complained about several problems. There was a fuel smell in the vehicle. The vehicle was hard to steer, when she turned the wheel there was a squeaking noise. The brakes dragged and squeaked, and it felt like the vehicle was sliding and it was hard to stop. The vehicle shook at highway speeds of 50 to 60 mph. The vehicle hesitated when going uphill or turning a corner. When she first got the vehicle it would keep running after she turned it off. They replaced something in the fuel system....
Read the full complaint
Dealer said the fuel smell was normal for this vehicle and they could not smell it. They replaced a part in the steering. Also, replaced the rotors. They told her to get tires balanced. Dealer said that most of these things were normal for vehicle . Manufacturer told the contact to go to the dealer and give them another chance. The contact said every time she took vehicle to dealer the problem got worse or old problems came back. The dealer switched the firestone tires for goodyear tires because of a recall on the tires. *Ak updated 11/29/05. *Jb
While in motion, consumer heard the steering make a clicking noise which lead to diminished control of the steering. Soon after, all steering control was lost. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where consumer was informed the air bag system needed replacing and the steering system failed. *Jg
Threads stripped between the inside and outside tie rod on drivers side causing complete loss of steering. Had this happened at speed it would have caused a serious injury or fatality. Dealer is investigating the cause.*Ak
While driving at 70 mph, lost control of the steering. Then applied the brakes and they failed. Vehicle rolled over four to six times. *Ak
While driving a pin came out of the steering column , causing the column to separate from the vehicle . The dealer has replaced the steering at owner's expense. *Ak
STEERING FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data